Easy Ways to Travel Green

More modern designers are going green by making stylish, eco-conscious goods. All hotels have to do is stock up!

Our pick

Proximity Hotel, Greensboro, NC

The lobby looks as trendy as any W Hotel, with dual spiral staircases and mohair sofas. Its 147 rooms are dapper, too, with 10-foot-high ceilings and modern furniture. So how does the Proximity use 39 percent less energy and 33 percent less water than conventional hotels? Not by using scratchy eco-towels. The hotel is green behind the scenes, using smart energy technology. They make the sacrifices so you don't have to. Best of all, bikes are free for all guests; use yours on the town's many public trails. (704 Green Valley Road, proximityhotel.com, 800-379-8200; doubles from $249)

Stay in this winery-turned-B&B on the North Fork of Long Island and co-owner and chef David Page will cook you and your fellow guests a seasonal breakfast, including sunny-side-up duck eggs and pork belly bacon, cured and smoked on-site. Walk it off with a guided tour of Shinn's grapevines, led by Page's wife, co-owner Barbara Shinn, who will explain her largely organic technique. (2000 Oregon Road, shinnfarmhouse.com, 631-804-0367; doubles from $200, wine tasting, breakfast and afternoon snack included)

Reason #3: The crowd is cooler

Why

Green is glamorous. Direct any skepticism to Leonardo DiCaprio. Hip crowds seek out conscientious hotels that don’t skimp on luxury.

Our pick

The Palazzo Resort-Hotel-Casino, Las Vegas

You could stay an entire week at the opulent Palazzo without realizing it's one of the greenest hotels on the Strip. Its 3,000-plus suites are among the biggest in town, all with remote-controlled Roman shades and flat-screen TVs (not to mention low-flush toilets and water-efficient showerheads). Admire the beautiful people at the casino and solar-heated swimming pools, then hit up stores and restaurants run by boldfaced names like Diane von Furstenberg, Wolfgang Puck and Mario Batali. (3325 Las Vegas Blvd. S., palazzolasvegas.com, 877-883-6423; doubles from $199)

Reason #4: It's more affordable

Why

Green doesn't have to be fancy. Some hotels smartly decorate with vintage furniture -- the best kind of recycling -- and pass that savings on to you.

Our pick

Ace Hotel, Portland, OR

Using funky repurposed materials (salvaged claw-foot bathtubs, reclaimed Douglas fir desks) has kept the hotel's design costs down; that's one of the reasons you'll pay just $95 a night. Rooms include murals by local artists, end tables made from stacks of old books and, if you're lucky, an old-school record player. Reward yourself for staying in such a cheap, chic place: Have your picture taken in the vintage-style photo booth in the lobby or sip a cup of coffee at Stumptown Coffee Roasters, an environmentally focused café adjacent to the hotel. (1022 S.W. Stark St., acehotel.com/portland, 503-228-2277; rooms from $95)

ECO TIPS -- AT HOME AND ON THE GO

Vacation closer to home to save on gas (and money).

Flying? Plane fuel is wasted waiting for clearance, so compare airline on-time records at FlightStats.com and book with the best.

Avoid layovers when flying. The majority of fuel use and harmful emissions occurs during takeoff and landing.

Eco hotels are often chic and affordable, plus they tend to have good food and a cool crowd. Search The International Ecotourism Society or GreenHotelBookings.com

Rent a hybrid if you need wheels while traveling. Some hotels, like the Kimpton chain, give discounts if you're driving a fuel-efficient car.

Don't buy new travel-size products: Refill your old ones before packing for a trip.

When traveling, use old contact lens cases to hold a few days' worth of hair gel or face cream.

Hang the Do Not Disturb sign on your hotel door to limit how often housekeeping vacuums and washes linens.

Neatly hang used towels to alert hotel staff that you're willing to reuse them -- a surefire way to conserve water.

Instead of eating in fast-food chains on the road, picnic with food bought from farmers' markets.

Buy a carbon offset from TerraPass to reduce the impact caused by air travel and automobile use.

*Prices and other details were accurate when we published this article in April 2009.